Method and Apparatus for Installing a Manhole Cover

ABSTRACT

A manhole installation jig including at least one example with: a manhole collar attachment system configured to removably attach the installation jig to a manhole collar having an upper edge, the manhole collar configured to support a manhole lid; a plurality of surface brackets extending outward from the manhole collar; each surface bracket comprising a ground engagement surface configured to engage the ground surface exterior of the manhole collar; and the manhole installation jig configured to support the manhole collar with the upper edge substantially at a vertical position level with the ground surface.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 63/234,440 filed on Aug. 18, 2021, incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

This disclosure relates to the field of devices, systems, and methodsfor installing a manhole cover on a manhole vault structure or assembly.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A manhole installation jig is disclosed herein, including at least oneexample with: a manhole collar attachment system configured to removablyattach the installation jig to a manhole collar having an upper edge,the manhole collar configured to support a manhole lid; a plurality ofsurface brackets extending outward from the manhole collar; each surfacebracket comprising a ground engagement surface configured to engage theground surface exterior of the manhole collar; and the manholeinstallation jig configured to support the manhole collar with the upperedge substantially at a vertical position level with the ground surface.

The manhole installation jig may be arranged wherein the plurality ofsurface brackets extend radially outward from the manhole collar.

The manhole installation jig may be arranged wherein the plurality ofsurface brackets is greater than three, each extending non-linearly fromthe manhole collar.

The manhole installation jig may be arranged wherein the plurality ofsurface brackets are connected to a bracket ring.

The manhole installation jig may be arranged wherein: the bracket ringcomprises a plurality of surfaces defining fastener receivers; and aplurality of fasteners configured to pass through the fastener receiversto be removably coupled to the manhole collar to connect the manholecollar to the manhole installation jig.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one example of the disclosedapparatus.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a side hidden line view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 inuse.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of another example of the disclosedapparatus.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 .

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 .

FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 .

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of another example of the disclosedapparatus.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 11 .

FIG. 13 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 11 .

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 11 .

FIG. 15 is a bottom perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 11 .

FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of another example of the disclosedapparatus.

FIG. 17 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 16 .

FIG. 18 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 16 .

FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 16 .

FIG. 20 is a bottom perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 16 .

FIG. 21 is a top perspective view of another example of the disclosedapparatus.

FIG. 22 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 21 .

FIG. 23 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 21 .

FIG. 24 is a bottom view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 21 .

FIG. 25 is a bottom perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 21 .

FIG. 26 is a side partial cutaway view of one example of a manholeassembly.

FIG. 27 is a top isometric view of another example of the disclosedapparatus.

FIG. 28 is a bottom isometric view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 27 .

FIG. 29 is a top isometric view of the disclosed apparatus.

FIG. 30 is a top isometric view of an inflatable device disclosedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Before describing the examples of the apparatus (e.g., jig 20) forinstalling a manhole cover disclosed herein, a basic background ofmanholes, their installation, and use is helpful in understanding theinvention at hand.

Looking to FIG. 26 is shown a general manhole assembly 22 comprising inpart a manhole casing 24 which has been installed in an excavation 26below a ground level 28. The ground level 28 may be a floor, roadway,sidewalk, walkway, field, parking lot, combination thereof, or anothersimilar surface. The casing 24 may be a container, vault, room, accesspoint, conduit, pipe, channel, or other structure that needs periodicaccess. Generally, these are places below walkways or roadways; forthese reasons and others they cannot be sealed, nor can they be leftopen. A manhole cover 30 comprising a manhole collar 32 and a manholelid 34 is thus placed on top of the casing 24 and often sealed thereto.Generally, the upper surface 38 of the lid 34 is level with orsubstantially level with and continuous with the surrounding groundsurface 28.

Historically, such a manhole collar 32 is positioned by installing shims42, spacers, wedges, debris, etc. between the upper edge 44 of thecasing 24 or attached structure, and the lower edge 46 of the collar 32or attached structure. The cover 30 then resting temporarily on theshims 42 etc. This forming a gap 48 between the upper edge 44 of thecasing 24 or attached structure, and the lower edge 46 of the collar 32or attached structure.

Historically, hardening fill such as quick set concrete, mortar, etc. istroweled or otherwise placed in the gap 48 around the shims 42 when thecollar 32 is positioned as desired. This hardening fill then hardens tosupport the collar 32 above the casing 24 with the lid 34 substantiallylevel with the ground surface 28. This approach has several problems,including that as the wheels 50 of vehicles roll over the lid 34, andcompress and vibrate the shims 42 and fill 52 the hardening filldeteriorates. Because neither of these materials has the neededcompression and vibration resistance, the hardening fill 52 cracks anddeteriorates over time, this allowing more movement of the collar 32relative to the casing 24 and amplifying subsequent deterioratingeffects of compression and vibration. The shims 42 must remain in placeuntil the fill 52 hardens and can support the collar 32 and theadditional weight of vehicles, pedestrians, etc.

This relative rapid deterioration of the fill 52 then results inmovement of the cover 30 toward the casing 24. This lowering the lid 34below the ground surface 28 and forming a hole in the roadway, walkway,etc. This hole making driving and walking dangerous and uncomfortable.

To alleviate these issues, a new method and apparatus (jig 20) forinstalling manhole cover 30 is disclosed herein facilitatinginstallation without the shims and facilitating the use of structuralfill such as concrete. The jig 20 is configured to be removably attachedto the collar 32 during installation and then removed when installationis complete. The jig 20 extends vertically above the collar 32 andincludes armatures that extend horizontally outward from the collar 32to contact and rest upon the ground surface 28 during installation.These armatures of the jig 20 temporarily support the collar 32 abovethe manhole casing 24 while installation is completed. In one exampleinstallation is accomplished with no direct contact points between thecollar 32 and the casing 24 or devices such as the shims 42 orequivalent spacers between the collar 32 and the cover 30. Thus,structural fill 54 can be troweled, poured, or otherwise placed in theentire gap 48 between the collar 32 and the casing 24. Duringinstallation, the jig 20 supports the collar 32 above the casing 24while the structural fill 54 hardens or cures. In one example,structural fill such as concrete, such as “7 bag” concrete may be usedhaving a much higher structural resistance to vibration anddeterioration than many products currently required.

In historical applications, fill 52 formed of quick set concrete,mortar, or similar low viscosity materials that harden quickly had to beused to avoid flowing of the fill 52 out of the gap 48. In manyinstallations the fill 52 would flow into the interior of the casing 24.These fill materials often have very low resistance to compression,chemical deterioration, and vibration. The installation jig 20 disclosedherein overcomes these detriments by a unique apparatus which allows theuse of structural fill of a slow set and much more vibration resilientmaterial than the quick set mortar traditionally used.

In one example the jig includes the use of an inflatable device 56 e.g.,FIG. 28 which may be cylindrical, toroidal, or another shape with aradial exterior surface 58 which contacts and substantially seals to theinner surface 60 of the casing 24 as well as the inner surface 62 of thecollar 32. Once this inflatable device 56 is in place, the inflatabledevice may be pressurized if needed by connecting a fitting 64 andinflation hose 66 to a source of pressurized air. Pressurizing of theinflatable device 56 further seals the inflatable device to the innersurfaces of the collar 32 and casing 24.

Once the inflatable device 56 is placed into the collar 32, overlappingthe inner surface of the casing 24 in contact with each of the collar 32and the casing 24, structural fill 54 can be poured, pressed, troweled,pressed, or otherwise placed in the gap 48 in a viscous or fluid form.In one example the structural fill 54 can be poured in to fill a spaceradially outward to the walls 68 of the excavation 26 or a form/moldplaced exterior thereof as desired. In one example, the structural fill54 is provided in sufficient quantity to fill the area radially exteriorthe collar 32 up to the ground surface 28. The structural fill hardeningto a rigid state and thus sealing the casing 24 to the collar 32 andfirmly supporting the collar 32 above the casing 24.

Once the structural fill 54 is sufficiently hardened, the jig 20 andoptional inflatable device 56 may be released from the collar 32 andremoved for use on another collar 32.

Looking to the example shown in FIG. 1 -FIG. 5 , the installation jig 20comprises a bracket ring 70 which inserts partially inside the collar32. A plurality of surface brackets 72 are welded, formed, adhered,fastened, or otherwise secured to the bracket ring 70 so as to extendradially outward, with a ground engaging surface 74 configured to restupon the ground surface 28 and thus support the collar 32 above thecasing 24 as disclosed above when the collar 32 is attached to the jig20.

In this example, the bracket ring 70 is substantially cylindrical with acenter opening allowing easy access to an inflatable device 56 and otherinternal components.

In addition, in the example shown, the surface brackets 72 each comprisea surface defining a grasping handle 76. The grasping handles 76configured to allow part of a user's hand through them for grasping andlifting the jig 20 along with the attached collar 32 onto the casing 24and positioning it as desired.

To attach the jig 20 to the collar 32 in one example, the jig 20comprises surfaces defining a plurality of voids 78 through whichfasters pass. Fasteners 80, such as screws or bolts pass through thesevoids 78 and engage the collar 32. In one example, receiving surfaces 82are provided on the collar 32. These receiving surfaces 82 may bethreaded to correspond to threaded surfaces on the fasteners 80. Thesereceiving surfaces may also be the surfaces historically utilized tosecure the manhole lid 34 in the same manner, after installation of thecollar is complete. Many manhole collars 32 commonly are manufacturedwith such receiving surfaces 82 to secure the manhole lid 34 to themanhole collar, and thus no post-production modification is needed toattach the jig 20.

In this example three surface brackets (armatures) 72 are attached to orformed with the bracket ring 79. These brackets 72 extendingsubstantially radially outward from the circumferential center of thebracket ring 79, equiangularly so as to provide a resting surface forthe jig 20 and attached collar 34 that does not tilt or rock on theground surface 28.

In the example shown in FIG. 6 -FIG. 10 many of the same components areused. In this example, a hub 170 is used in place of the bracket ring70. This hub 170 changing the access to the collar 32 and changing theforce dynamics. This example may use the same voids 78 and fasteners 80as disclosed above.

In the example shown in FIG. 11 -FIG. 15 the surface brackets 272 extendradially inward to a central connection point 270. Although the exampleshows four surface brackets 272, two, three, or more than four surfacebrackets may be used.

In addition, this example utilizes collar clamps 84 utilized instead ofthe fasteners 80. These collar clamps 84 may slide radially along thesurface brackets 272 and pass through the central opening of the collar32. These collar clamps 84 comprise a radially outwardly extending foot86 which engages a lower surface of the collar 32 to support the collar32. In one example, each clamp 84 comprises a tensioning device such asa spring, bolt, or set screw 88. When the set screw 88 or other deviceis tensioned, the clamp 84 is repositioned longitudinally against thesurface brackets 84 and compress the collar 32 between the surfacebrackets 84 and the foot 86. This arrangement effectively clamps thecollar 32 to the jig 20.

The example shown in FIG. 16 -FIG. 20 comprises similar voids 387 to thevoids 78 previously discussed, and similar surface brackets 372 to thebrackets 272 previously described each used as disclosed above. Theclamps 84 of the previous example may also/alternatively be used. Onesubstantial difference is that this example may include a removable hub370 which removably connects each of the surface brackets 372 thusallowing for a smaller overall apparatus for shipping and storing.

In one example, the hub 370 comprises a plurality of surfaces definingreceivers 92 which receive a first end 94 of each surface clamp 94 andthus connect the surface clamps 372 to form the jig 320. Thisarrangement producing a jig 320 which is easily disassembled to beshipped or stored in its component parts overall smaller than theassembled jig 320.

The example shown in FIG. 21 -FIG. 25 comprises a hinged hub 470functionally similar to the hub 370. This example includes fasteningvoids 478 and/or clamps 84 as disclosed above. In this example, the hub470 comprises a hinge 96 connecting the individual surface brackets 472′for ease in assembly and reducing shipping and storage space needs. Inthis example the hinge 96 comprises a vertical axis 98 about which thesurface brackets rotate 102. In one example, some (two in this example)of the surface brackets 472′ comprise a bend or angle 104 so that allsurface brackets will lie parallel to each other when folded 106.

Looking to FIG. 27 , FIG. 28 is another example with components similarto the previously described examples (FIG. 16-20 ) including surfacebrackets 572 and a hub 570. One addition, which may be used with otherexamples, is a center eyebolt 590. The center eyebolt 590 may be used toattach a lifting cable, rope, chain, or similar apparatus to lift andposition the combined jig 520 and collar 32.

In addition, an example is shown including a fastener 92 in this exampleextending through the hub 570 and engaging a cross-member 94. Thecross-member 94 engaging a lower surface 96 of the collar 32 and thusclamping the collar 32 between the surface brackets 572 and thecross-member 94 during transportation, placement, and installation asdescribed above.

Looking to FIG. 29 is shown an example where the surfaces defining voids578 are elongated, to allow for various sized collars and to allow formanufacturing tolerances. These surfaces defining voids 578 may beutilized on one or more of the surface brackets 572 of this example andthe other examples previously described.

While the present invention is illustrated by description of severalembodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described indetail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in anyway limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additionaladvantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claimswill readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in itsbroader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details,representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shownand described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such detailswithout departing from the spirit or scope of applicants' generalconcept. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may bepracticed in the absence of any element which is not specificallydisclosed herein.

1. A manhole installation jig comprising: a manhole collar attachmentsystem configured to removably attach the installation jig to a manholecollar having an upper edge, a lower edge, the manhole collar configuredto support a manhole lid; a plurality of surface brackets extendingoutward from the manhole collar; each surface bracket comprising aground engagement surface; each ground engagement surface configured torest upon the ground surface exterior of the manhole collar; the manholeinstallation jig configured to support the manhole collar with the upperedge substantially at a vertical position level with the ground surfaceduring installation; and the manhole installation jig configured tosupport the manhole collar with the bottom edge substantially at avertical position above and not in direct contact with a manhole casingbelow the ground surface.
 2. The manhole installation jig as recited inclaim 1 wherein the plurality of surface brackets extend radiallyoutward from the manhole collar.
 3. The manhole installation jig asrecited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of surface brackets is three orgreater, each extending non-linearly from the manhole collar.
 4. Themanhole installation jig as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality ofsurface brackets is connected to a bracket ring.
 5. The manholeinstallation jig as recited in claim 4 wherein: the bracket ringcomprises a plurality of surfaces defining fastener receivers; and aplurality of fasteners configured to pass through the fastener receiversto be removably coupled to the manhole collar to connect the manholecollar to the manhole installation jig.
 6. The manhole installation jigas recited in claim 1 further comprising an inflatable device having aperimeter surface in continuous contact around an inner peripherysurface of the collar and in contact with continuous contact around aninner periphery surface of the casing.